Cellular proliferation is reduced and senescence is increased in PrP KO NSCs.A, flow cytometry profiles showing the cell count of Ki67-negative (blue) and Ki67-positive (red) WT and KO NSCs with quantification (right). B, beta-galactosidase staining of senescent cells. Well scanning showing representative staining intensity of a single well of WT and KO NSCs from a 24-well plate (left) and quantification (right). The scale bar indicates 1000 μm. C, Western blotting for the marker of senescence, p21 (left) and quantification (right). WT and KO results were compared by two-tailed unpaired student’s t test with Welch’s correction (p-values are indicated on graphs), n = 3 (A) and n = 4 (B and C). Graphs are displayed relative to control (A; “Ctrl”: no antibody) or the average of the WT (B and C). TP, total protein; NSC, neural stem cell; PrP, prion protein.